Incredibly rare first edition of Casino Royale set to fetch up to £30,000 at Ewbank’s

A copy of the earliest first edition of Casino Royale, the book that launched the character of James Bond is expected to fetch £30,000 at Ewbank’s on July 6.

This first edition, first impression of the James Bond thriller Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming, is expected to fetch up to £30,000 at Ewbank’s on July 6.
Image courtesy of Ewbank's

The lot is part of Ewbank's James Bond auction which features more than 200 Bond related items, mostly film posters and some collectibles.

The first edition, first impression of Casino Royale was published in London by Jonathan Cape in 1953. A collector’s dream, it comes complete with first state dust jacket. This was released before the book was reviewed so does not come with the Sunday Times review overprinted on the front flap as the later issues did, and the dust jacket is not price clipped.

James Bond titles are among the most popular spy thrillers ever written and are made even more collectable by their design. Copies in as fine condition as this one can run into bids of tens of thousands of pounds at auction.

Casino Royale’s fortunes as a book enjoyed a considerable boost when the story was finally released as a film starring Daniel Craig in 2006.

Fewer than 5,000 copies were produced of this first edition, first impression in April 1953, selling out within a month. Seventy years later, vanishingly few copies in such fine condition survive.

“The allure of James Bond is as strong as ever,” says McCrea. “We now hold several sales a year dedicated to the 007 phenomenon and bidding is as vigorous as it’s ever been.”

Live online bidding is available via the auctioneers’ website at www.ewbankauctions.co.uk

Click here for all James Bond lots

Click here for the Casino Royale First Edition

UPDATE: the Casino Royale First Edition sold for £20,800 incl premiums